Check Out Chris Motley’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Motley.

Hi Chris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up I was all about sports, football primarily. Although sports occupied most of my time, I had a huge passion for the Arts. Music, Fashion and Film all had a heavy influence on me throughout my childhood. Growing up in the 90’s I was able to see Artists uniquely express themselves and be proud of their individuality, nobody was trying to mimic or be like anybody else. I loved seeing that as a kid. I took that with me and applied it to my own life as an athlete, having my own steez on the field and in the halls at school lookin’ fresh in an $8 outfit I pieced together from goodwill before it was cool to wear thrift clothes. Seeing a variety of different Artists be so comfortable with who they were gave me a lot of confidence to express myself the way I wanted to. I understood early that it’s cool to be who you are.

After finishing up playing Division 1 football in college, I was pressed on the question of what it is I want to do. Getting into the fashion industry was at the top of my list but I had no idea where to start. It wasn’t until about two years after I graduated college that I decided to go all-in and pursue a career as a model, starting with moving to LA.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Far from smooth. When I first arrived in LA, I was living out of my car for two months. Crashed on my friend’s couches when I could. Stayed in different hostels throughout LA. Doing all different types of side hustles just to have enough gas to get to castings. Even though circumstances were rugged, it never affected my spirit. I enjoyed the experience of what it was I was going through at the time, it propelled me to grind harder and get a feel for the industry and the city of Los Angeles.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do? What sets you apart from others?
Yeah, thanks for having me on your platform. Well – I consider myself an Artist, within the category of the Arts I work in Fashion. Underneath the umbrella of the Fashion industry, I model. Being an Artist allows me not to be pigeonholed. That’s essential for me, especially as I add to the repertoire. Currently, I’m stepping into the Film industry as a Writer, Director. I’m getting ready to shoot my first short film with an amazing team and cast that I’m excited about.

What sets me apart is my endurance and ability to adapt. Looking at the big picture and not the quick payout. Not being attached to the outcome and just doing the work. Being real with myself and loving myself. Marching to the beat of my own drum. My approach allows me to stay in my own lane and not look outside of myself. As Artists, our creations come from within us and get expressed outwardly. Having a relationship with yourself is the foundation to your creation, that allows us to stay true to our unique expression.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My nieces and nephews! Isabel, Isaiah, Myles, Reyna, Tatum and Nyima. Those are my young Gods and Goddess. All of my siblings and my Mom and Dad as well. They continually pour love into me and support my journey!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @motleymodel
• Facebook: Chris Motley

Image Credits
All pictures except the picture with me in red pants are Credited to Marti Alonzo (IG @6.tiff) Pictures in the Red pants those photos are credited to Alexander Thomas (IG @alexanderthomas.psd)